In a year that has, so far, seen players like Pedrie Wannenberg, Keven Mealamu, John Smit, Victor Matfield and Richie McCaw reach the milestone of 100 Super Rugby games, two more legends of the game, in Danie Rossouw and Rodney So’oialo, are set to make their 100th appearance in Super Rugby. The following from their respective unions:

Danie Rossouw:

Vodacom Bulls stalwart, Danie Rossouw, will become the third player in the team to play 100 Super Rugby games when they take on the Crusaders in Fridayâ€™s clash against the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

He follows Pedrie Wannenburg (108) as the second Bulls player to earn this distinction, with Victor Matfield (106), who has played 98 of his matches for the Bulls and eight for the Cats.

The 31-year old Rossouw, who made his Super Rugby debut in 2001 against the Cats, has only scored five tries in this time (the last during the 2009- final), but has played with as many numbers on his back, showing his great versatility as a rugby player.

He played most of his rugby at lock, but have also excelled as a loose forward and started at number eight against the Waratahs this year, the same position he played in the World Cup final with the Springboks in 2007.

He still rates that World Cup gold medal as a career highlight, with the 2008 Currie Cup final defeat against the Sharks as his worst day in rugby.

Rossouw, who loves hunting, fishing and golf, rates the Crusaders as his most difficult opponent and will relish the chance to front up to them again.

Bio:

Date of Birth: 05/06/1978 (Sabie)

Height: 1.97

Weight: 118 kg

First class debut: 1999, 249 matches (185 points).

Provincial career:

Vodacom Blue Bulls 1999-2010, 98 matches (120 points)

Super 14:

Vodacom Bulls 2002-2010, 99 matches (25 points)

International:

Springboks 2003-2010, 46 tests (35 points) & 3 touring matches.

Springbok XV 2006, 1 match

SA A 2004

Honours:

Webb Ellis trophy (Springboks, 2007)

Vodacom Super 14 trophy (Bulls, 2007 & 2009)

Absa Currie Cup (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2004, 2006 (shared), 2009)

Vodacom Cup (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2001)

Rodney So’oialo:

Hurricanes and All Blacks stalwart Rodney Soâ€™oialo will put on the Hurricanes jersey for 100th time this Friday when he runs out against the Reds. With this milestone he joins Tana Umaga as the only other Hurricanes player to gain this achievement. Rodney has been a great campaigner for the Hurricanes throughout his career and this milestone couldnâ€™t be reached by a more passionate and dedicated player.

Known for his big work-rate and determination to take the ball straight up the middle, Rodney has become a favorite with Hurricanes supporters. His hard tackling and hard running has put fear into opposition defenders and attackers season after season.

He has been an outstanding leader for the Hurricanes, after becoming a senior member of the squad. He captained the team four times in 2005 and eventually took over the reins in 2006 from Tana Umaga. His captaincy record currently stands at, 49-games with 32 wins and 16 losses.

Soâ€™oialo’s name has been a mainstay on Hurricanes team-sheets for the past nine seasons since he played his first match at openside flanker against the Reds in Brisbane in the first round of the 2001 Super 12 season. In the very next match following his debut against the Queenslanders, he came on as a substitute against the Stormers in Wellington for his hometown debut.